An independent expert commission recommends increasing the monthly broadcasting fee by 58 cents from 18.36 euros to 18.94 euros from 2025. This was confirmed by the Commission for Determining the Financial Needs of Broadcasting Corporations (KEF) in Berlin when handing over its report to the federal states.
The states decide on the amount of the contribution. However, you must closely follow the KEF recommendation. When exactly a decision will be made is unclear. There is a risk of conflict because the amount is set unanimously but there are different positions. Several prime ministers made it clear months ago that they would not support an increase. The case could even end up before the Federal Constitutional Court.
The broadcasting fee that households and companies pay essentially finances public broadcasting with ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. Total revenue in 2022 was around 8.57 billion euros.
The federal states commission public broadcasting through a state treaty – so they determine what it should do for the population or which programs it should offer. To achieve this, the houses must be financially equipped. The economic effort follows the order. The KEF regularly checks the financial plans of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio and ensures thrift. This overall structure is also intended to secure the constitutionally protected freedom of broadcasting.
The prime ministers, who do not want to support an increase in the broadcasting fee, do not see enough support among the population. They also argue that the ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio stations need to operate more efficiently. And they cite the crisis at the ARD broadcaster RBB due to allegations of nepotism, which has cost trust. Other voices warn against using the broadcasting fee as an election campaign issue or using it to promote populism.